BRIDGEPORT – Ethan Book, a local businessman who ran for public office several times, has died, according to a statement from his family.
Book’s family announced his death Saturday on his company’s Facebook page. On Jan. 2, Book was taken to a Bridgeport hospital where he died Saturday surrounded by a close circle of friends and family, his son Aaron Book said. His family has not said why he died.
A funeral is scheduled for Feb. 4 at Prince of Peace Church, 29 Ash St., in Bridgeport, Aaron Book said. The service will be open to the public.
In 2020, Book ran unsuccessfully as a Republican candidate for the 128th District House seat. He has also been a candidate for Bridgeport City Council, mayor and state legislature in the past.
While running for office, Aaron Book said his father went door to door talking to people and trying to help them. At one point, he encountered an elderly woman who had lived in the same house in Bridgeport for a long time and was in danger of becoming homeless due to increased taxes.
“These are the people that dad was trying to help,” Aaron Book said. “He loved the people of Bridgeport and Connecticut and he really, really tried to help.”
Book’s family said they will continue to maintain his business, New England Limousine Service of Fairfield, which he has operated since 1989, according to his website.
“He made your travels and special moments even more meaningful with his character and humor,” his sons Aaron, Andrew and Anthony said in a Facebook post.
Ethan Book was born in 1948 in Waynesboro, Pennsylvania and raised in Frederick, Maryland, according to his website. He later graduated from Azusa Pacific University in California with a degree in business administration in 1972. From 1973 to 1975, he served in the US Peace Corps in Bucaramanga, Colombia, and received his master’s degree in 1977 from the Thunderbird School of Global Management.
He and his family moved to Connecticut in 1983, Aaron Book said.
“My father was an extremely intelligent, well-educated man who had tremendous potential in his life,” Aaron Book said.
Aaron Book said his father was prompted to run when he encountered political corruption.
“It changed his life,” he said. “He just got on with it,” he continued, describing his father as a “fighter” and a “strong advocate of constitutionally limited government.”
According to his website, Book was “conservative on fiscal and social issues,” promoted “fair education funding” and called on officials to “fix our broken justice system.”
Liz Hardaway can be reached at [email protected]